Sidestep and Strike: GM Basso and GM Stella on 1.Nf3 and g3
There is a particular kind of practical wisdom in choosing an opening that sidesteps the opponent's preparation without surrendering any ambition. The Reti — 1.Nf3 followed by g3 and Bg2 — has been built on this philosophy. Where 1.d4 or 1.e4 invites encyclopedic theoretical battles, 1.Nf3 whispers a different invitation: let us play chess. And increasingly, that whisper has been heard at the highest level. Magnus Carlsen himself has recently turned to 6.a4 in the Reti — a subtle, offbeat move that quietly dislocates Black's standard plans and demands fresh thinking from the very first middlegame decisions.
It is precisely this Carlsen-endorsed idea that anchors this new Modern Chess course, authored by GM Pier Luigi Basso and GM Andrea Stella. Basso, one of Italy's most analytically rigorous grandmasters, has built the repertoire around the principle that the best preparation is the kind your opponent has not studied — and that the bishop on g2 can press long before the opponent realizes the position has turned against them. Stella, a grandmaster from Italy, who reached a peak rating of 2512 and brings the sharpness of an active tournament player, contributes both practical experience and meticulous analysis across the Classical systems that are most frequently encountered in tournament play. Together, their approach is not to overwhelm with volume, but to identify the concrete moments where White's setup creates genuine, decision-forcing problems for Black.
What the Course Covers
The focus of Part 1 is the Classical setups — those where Black develops the bishop to e7 or d6. These are statistically the most common replies at every level, and the authors treat them with corresponding depth. The backbone of the repertoire runs through 6.a4, where White accepts a slightly unorthodox structure in exchange for real imbalance and strong practical value.
Variation Map — 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3, lines with Be7 (Part 1)
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.0-0 Be7 5.d3 0-0 6.a4
- 6...c5 — the most common response → Chapter 1
- 6...Nc6 — preparing ...e5 → Chapter 2
- 6...b6 — Aronian's logical development → Chapter 3
- 6...Nbd7 and other sidelines → Chapter 4
4...b5 — Dreev's system, recently employed by Mamedyarov → Chapter 7
4...b6 — and the related 4...Be7 5.d3 b6 complex → Chapter 8
4...c5 5.d3 Nc6 6.e4 → Chapters 8–9
4...Bd6 — the alternative Classical development → Chapters 10–11
The repertoire is built around 6.a4 — Carlsen's recent choice — a move that creates genuine imbalance and routinely catches opponents in unfamiliar territory from an early stage.
Course Details
- 11 Chapters
- 20 test positions
- Memory Booster
- To Go Version of every chapter
- Video instruction
- Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
GM Basso and GM Stella have also collaborated on Opposite-Colored Bishop Endgames: Practical Winning Techniques, a separate endgame course that reflects the same analytical precision and practical focus they bring to their work.
If you want a White repertoire that sidesteps theory without surrendering an inch of ambition, this course is the place to start.